RAF Hospital Ely
A black and white image of four nursing sisters on pushbikes outside a hospital block
Off-duty nursing sisters with RAF Hospital Ely behind them
Geography
LocationEly, Cambridgeshire, England
Coordinates52°24′47″N 0°16′26″E / 52.413°N 0.274°E / 52.413; 0.274
Organisation
Care systemMilitary
FundingGovernment hospital
Services
Beds150 (1940)
168 (1987)
History
Construction started1939 – 1940
Opened1940
Closed31 July 1992
Links
ListsHospitals in England

RAF Hospital Ely (also known as RAF Ely and RAFH Ely), was a Royal Air Force staffed military hospital in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. The hospital opened in 1940, and was one of a handful of Second World War era RAF hospitals that were kept open post Second World War, remaining a military asset until 1992, although it also treated non-service patients, usually those who lived locally. On closure, the hospital became a civilian hospital under the NHS. Although not located on an established RAF Base (unlike RAFH Cosford and RAFH Halton), RAFH Ely was located within 50 miles (80 km) of forty RAF bases in the Second World War.

History

Groundwork for the hospital was started as far back as 1937,[1] although actual construction started in 1939,[2] and by June 1940, the hospital was opened with a capacity of 197 beds.[3] Originally, land on High Barnes Road was allocated for the hospital, but this was moved further north to the road out of Ely to Chettisham.[4] The first part to open was at Littleport, which became an annexe of the Ely Hospital.[5] The facility at Littleport (5 miles (8 km) to the north), was opened hurriedly when on the outbreak of war, the Ely facility was not completed in time.[6]

An August 1940 opening was worked on the basis of the hospital not being complete, however, in terms of the other RAF hospitals, it was quite modern in having air-conditioning and was designed to be blast-proof.[6] An enemy bomber did drop some ordnance near to the hospital in February 1941, killing a guard, and although all the glass in the hospital was smashed, there was no structural damage.[7] Due to many of the East Anglian regiments and Air Force personnel serving in the Far East, Ely hospital became a unit which specialised in tropical diseases.[8] The hospital also had a maxillo-facial unit which opened in June 1942, the first ever in an RAF Hospital, and was staffed by a dental officer who had been specially trained in that area.[9] Selected staff attended the emergency medical section at East Grinstead, which was noted in its pioneering use of plastic surgery on the burns suffered by aircrew.[10] These staff were then returned to their units, with the RAF hospitals at Halton, Rauceby, Cosford and Ely having special burns units.[11] By the time the hospital was running at full-strength, it could cater for over forty RAF stations within a 50 miles (80 km) radius.[12] Many of the patients who were treated at RAFH Ely during the war, were casualties from the nearby Bomber Command bases who had been injured on bombing operations over occupied Europe.[13][14]

Although no airfield existed at the hospital, in the 1960s a Spitfire aircraft was transported on a low-loader from RAF Middleton-st-George to act as the hospital's gate guardian.[5] This was replaced by a Meteor aircraft.[15] In 1962, nurse training was formalised at Ely and Wroughton hospitals; both female and male nurses would enlist doing six-weeks basic training at RAF Halton camp (not the hospital), and then move to Ely or Wroughton for three years of nursing training.[16] As a post-war service, the hospital also treated non-service personnel from the local area (there was also another hospital, The Tower Hospital, in Ely), and had an accident and emergency unit which was opened in 1963.[17] In 1973, the hospital treated 31,000 outpatients, and 6,000 inpatients, of which, at least 30% were civilian patients.[5] In September 1977, the hospital was given the Freedom of the City of Ely.[18][17][19] In the late 1970s, it was decided that either the hospital at Nocton Hall or Ely would close,[20] and in 1983 Nocton Hall closed. RAFH Ely accepted the work that was previously undertaken there,[21] having a £4 million refit with two new operating theatres and four new wards.[5]

The number of beds available for in-patients varied over the years, and numbers reflected the necessity (the Second World War) and the diminishing service community.

The tower at Princess of Wales Hospital, Ely. This was demolished in 2012.[22]
Bed space numbers
Year Beds Ref
1940 400 (included the 250 beds at Littleport) [23]
1941 (315 at Ely, 250 at Littleport) 565 [12]
1972 175 [24]
1980 142 [5]
1985 185 [24]
1987 168 (65 beds specially reserved for NHS patients) [5][25]
1990 137 [26]
1992 81 [26]
Functions at Ely and Littleport[27]
Ely Littleport
General surgical (major and minor) NYDN Centre (Not yet diagnosed neuropsychiatric)
General medical Dermatological
Orthopaedic Infectious diseases
Burns Ophthalmic
Accident and Emergency (post war civilian use)[17] Convalescent centre (Surgical and medical)
Invaliding holding centre

Both locations had numerous outpatients too.[27] Besides routine medical work, and services to the local community, the hospital continued to provide specialist attention. In 1986, several air crashes resulted in pilots and aircrew being taken to RAFH Ely after ejecting for their aircraft.[28]

Diana, Princess of Wales visited the hospital in July 1987, and unveiled its new name of the Princess of Wales Royal Air Force Hospital.[29] In 1989, the hospital treated 13,538 outpatients and 5,652 inpatients. This represented a split of 70% civilian and 30% service personnel.[17]

A closure programme was announced in 1990, with Ely due to go two years later.[30] The site was closed by the RAF in July 1992, but was taken over as an NHS hospital by the local trust as a community hospital.[31] Tower hospital in Ely closed in 1993, and all functions were transferred to the Princess of Wales site.[32] In the 2010s, the hospital was serving 40,000 patients per year.[33]

Badge

Many RAF hospitals were opened in the Second World War period, due to its location in East Anglia near to the RAF bases of Brampton, Coltishall, Honington, Marham, Swanton Morley, West Raynham, Wattisham, and Wyton,[34] it stayed open until 1992, (though the RAF hospitals at Halton and Wroughton survived it).[35] As such, it was awarded a badge; which displayed a red cross with three Ducal crowns - the red cross denoted the medical help, and the crowns were adopted from the arms of the See of Ely.[36]

The motto of the hospital was Save.[37]

Notable personnel

References

  1. ↑ Rexford-Welch 1954, p. 184.
  2. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 89.
  3. ↑ Lane, Joan (2001). A social history of medicine : health, healing and disease in England, 1750-1950. London: Routledge. p. 183. ISBN 0-415-20037-7.
  4. ↑ "Ely and Chettisham". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021. Use the slider on the lower left to toggle between modern day imagery and old maps
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "How it all began, and how it's going for the Princess of Wales hospital". infoweb.newsbank.com. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  6. 1 2 Rexford-Welch 1954, p. 200.
  7. ↑ Rexford-Welch 1954, p. 202.
  8. ↑ "Princess of Wales RAF Hospital, Ely (Hansard, 13 November 1990)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  9. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 119.
  10. ↑ Rexford-Welch 1954, p. 134.
  11. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 105.
  12. 1 2 Rexford-Welch 1954, p. 201.
  13. ↑ "Mrs GB Abel Porthpean obituary". The Cornish Guardian. 6 August 2014. p. 43. ISSN 2044-1606.
  14. ↑ Bowman, Martin W. (2014). Last of the Lancasters. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword. p. 41. ISBN 1473843456.
  15. ↑ "Aircraft WS774 (1954 Gloster Meteor NF(T).14 C/N Not found WS774) Photo by Peter Nicholson (Photo ID: AC303475)". www.airport-data.com. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  16. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 269.
  17. 1 2 3 4 "Princess Of Wales Raf Hospital, Ely - Tuesday 13 November 1990 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 13 November 1990. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  18. ↑ Rees-Mogg, William, ed. (24 September 1977). "Hospital honoured". The Times. No. 60, 117. p. 14. ISSN 0140-0460.
  19. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 309.
  20. ↑ "RAF Ely (Hansard, 16 January 1979)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  21. ↑ Ansell, Keith (September 1982). "RAF Support Command". Armed Forces monthly. Shepperton: Ian Allan: 299. ISSN 0142-4696.
  22. ↑ "Demolition of the landmark tower on the site of the RAF Hospital". ely.ccan.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  23. ↑ Rexford-Welch 1954, p. 37.
  24. 1 2 Ministry of Defence : service hospitals (Report). London: National Audit Office. 1987. p. 22. OCLC 606142743.
  25. ↑ "Service Hospitals - Thursday 17 December 1987 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. 17 December 1987. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Military Hospitals - Monday 26 July 1993 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  27. 1 2 Rexford-Welch 1954, pp. 201–202.
  28. ↑ "Air crews survive jet collision". infoweb.newsbank.com. 11 December 1986. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  29. ↑ "RAF Hospital in Ely" (PDF). elymuseum.org.uk. p. 3. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  30. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 324.
  31. ↑ Elworthy, John (13 February 2021). "Ambitious timescale for hospital expansion". Ely Standard. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  32. ↑ "Archives A to Z - H to I". Cambridgeshire County Council. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  33. ↑ "RAF cadets chip in to bring lost Ely hospital sign back". BBC News. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  34. ↑ Laming, Tim (1994). The Royal Air Force manual : the aircraft, equipment and organization of the RAF. London: Arms and Armour. pp. 91–138. ISBN 1854091905.
  35. ↑ Laming, Tim (1994). The Royal Air Force manual : the aircraft, equipment and organization of the RAF. London: Arms and Armour. p. 89. ISBN 1854091905.
  36. ↑ "Ely Hospital | RAF Heraldry Trust". rafht.co.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  37. ↑ Pine, L G (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 205. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  38. ↑ Mackie 2001, p. 179.
  39. ↑ Bowman, Martin W. (2015). Voices in flight : the night air war. Bransley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword. p. 60. ISBN 9781783831913.
  40. ↑ "Election 2010: Nick De Bois, Conservative candidate for Enfield North". Enfield Independent. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  41. ↑ Harding, James, ed. (2 June 2011). "Air Marshal Sir Geoffrey Dhenin - RAF flying doctor who piloted a jet bomber through the mushroom cloud during Britain's atom bomb tests in Australia in 1953". The Times. No. 70, 275. p. 52. ISSN 0140-0460.
  42. ↑ Cooper, Alan W. (2012). Air battle for Arnhem. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Aviation. p. 107. ISBN 978-1-78159-108-6.
  43. ↑ "GORDON, ROBERT HENRY". losses.internationalbcc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  44. ↑ Lomax, Eric (2012). The railway man : a POW's searing account of war, brutality and forgiveness. New York: Norton. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-393-34407-3.
  45. ↑ "Morley, George Henry (1907 - 1971)". livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  46. ↑ Turnbull, Gordon (2012). Trauma : from Lockerbie to 7/7 : how trauma affects our minds and how we fight back. London: Corgi. p. 380. ISBN 0552158399.
  47. ↑ Bishop, Edward (2002). The Daily Telegraph book of airmen's obituaries. London: Grub Street. p. 213. ISBN 1902304993.

Sources

  • Mackie, Mary (2001). Sky wards : a history of the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0-7090-6976-6.
  • Rexford-Welch, Samuel Cuthbert (1954). Royal Air Force Medical Services. London: HMSO. OCLC 1072173557.
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